Newbie Verizon 4G (monthly) Activation Question

I just bought my first iPad, a 64GB Verizon 4G, and have a question about the cellular service:

I mostly plan on just using the WiFi, but hope to activate the 4G for a month at a time when I'm traveling or vacationing. My question is this: Is the process to buy a month at a time through Verizon pretty straight forward? In your experience, how long does it take once you decide to activate the Verizon service until it hits your iPad? Thanks for your help. Can't wait until the 16th!

I just bought my first iPad, a 64GB Verizon 4G, and have a question about the cellular service:

I mostly plan on just using the WiFi, but hope to activate the 4G for a month at a time when I'm traveling or vacationing. My question is this: Is the process to buy a month at a time through Verizon pretty straight forward? In your experience, how long does it take once you decide to activate the Verizon service until it hits your iPad? Thanks for your help. Can't wait until the 16th!

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From the screen shots on apple.com looks like you do it all from the iPad with a credit card number. Very simple and straight forward, well at least in the screen shots.

Yes, it's very straight forward. You buy the month via your iPad. If you cancel, service ends when you use your data or a month passes, whichever comes first. If you don't cancel your CC will be charged each month automatically. If you go over your data limit for the month, I believe you'll get a notice asking if you want to buy another bucket of data, and if you decline your acct is dormant until the next month.

I think I remember that Verizon handles it differently. I know it mentions overages on their rate plans because I am considering a Verizon 4G model. I'm guessing that all the responses so far are describing the experience their AT&T iPads.

Overage = amount another bundle will cost you if you run out of data during any given month. However, you are not automatically charged with a prepaid acct. You have to actively buy the bundle. At least that's how it works with the ATT models.

So you can't turn off autorenew without cancelling it for the month? That sucks.

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If you only need that month. You join and buy what ever block of expiring data you want and when you are done. Relog onto that and cancel it. That way it will not renew at the end of the 30 days. I always do this just to make sure I do not forget to stop the auto renewal. AT&T only sells blocks of data and does not have any overage cost. When your slug of data is out, your plan is done till you renew again or let AT&T auto renew.

I wonder what this (highlighted) means (from the "fine print" at the bottom of the page). :

*Plans are monthly and automatically renew on the first day of your billing cycle unless you cancel service prior to that date. Service may be cancelled at any time by calling 1-800-331-0500. No termination fees apply. Usage in excess of 250MB for the 250MB plan during the service period will be billed at $14.99 for each additional 250MB. Usage in excess of 3GB for the 3GB plan or in excess of 5GB for the 5GB plan during the service period will be billed $10 for each additional 1GB. Unused data does not rollover to the next thirty day period. Offer not available for on-tablet activation.

I have a Verizon iPad coming. Went to the store today and they were no help.

I want to be able to use the 4G only when I travel, not all the time. The employees all said they had never set up anyone on a prepaid plan, and were pretty clueless.

I am concerned about activation fees and reinstatement fees. I know tons of folks only turn the Cellular functions on for blocks of time, but what is the best way to do it.

One of the managers suggested I just pay for the 20 dollar hotspot on my phone, but that would mean I would have to have my phone available when I want to use the iPad connectivity, and that wasn't my plan.

Interesting when I look at the 4G coverage maps of my home street, it is entirely possible that part of my house will be 4G and part extended 4G so that will be interesting!

I have a Verizon iPad coming. Went to the store today and they were no help.

I want to be able to use the 4G only when I travel, not all the time. The employees all said they had never set up anyone on a prepaid plan, and were pretty clueless.

I am concerned about activation fees and reinstatement fees. I know tons of folks only turn the Cellular functions on for blocks of time, but what is the best way to do it.

One of the managers suggested I just pay for the 20 dollar hotspot on my phone, but that would mean I would have to have my phone available when I want to use the iPad connectivity, and that wasn't my plan.

Interesting when I look at the 4G coverage maps of my home street, it is entirely possible that part of my house will be 4G and part extended 4G so that will be interesting!

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